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Fiftieth anniversary of a distinguished year

UCL Geographers return to Senate House

On 22nd July, UCL Geography graduates from the Year of 1967 celebrated their fiftieth anniversary with a reunion lunch at the University of London Senate House.

The location was appropriate, since in those days, before awards of University of London degrees were devolved to the colleges, the same examinations were taken by finalists from all its colleges and schools and overseen from the imposing presence of Senate House.

Typically for the period, many of the year had worked in teaching and public service, with an unusual number becoming senior academics, including Linda Newson and Roger Kain (University of London, School of Advanced Studies), Peter Daniels (Birmingham) and Edmund Penning-Rowsell (Middlesex). The department’s overseas academic influence was also marked by the presence of John Connell (Sydney, Australia) and John Townshend (Maryland, USA) .

From UCL, the celebration was joined by Hugh Clout and Peter Wood, who had taught the year as young assistant lecturers, including on a fondly remembered Easter field class in snowy Durham.

In spite of advancing years, the vigour of the meeting suggested that more might be anticipated in future!